Honours were even this afternoon, with a point & a goal apiece for The Hamlet & their Gillingham counterparts.

This opening Football Conference Youth Alliance D Division fixture took place at Rutland Park sports ground in Catford earlier today & although a draw couldn't be argued with it was The Hamlet who had slightly more of the game.

Clear cut chances were at a premium in the first half, against a Gillingham side, respendant in their mainly red North West Kent College adorned shirts. One of ours was a free kick just outside the penalty area, after Shelton Frimpong was brought down, but it was placed over the bar by Kadeeh Ajeon. Later we brought the ball from our own half, but the shot from 25 yards out also cleared the woodwork. One or two more chances fell to The Hamlet youngsters, but there was no real danger for the Gills student custodian. Despite a few forays forward from the visitors we continued to have more of the possession, forcing several corners. Not long before the interval, following a nice one-two, Kadeeh Ajeon hit the post.

In the second half we spurned a good snap chance when, after a poor defensive clearance, intercepted by Aaron Powell, he only managed to shoot wide of the post. Fifteen minutes into the half it was Gillingham who took the lead, a potshot just inside the post just crept into the bottom corner of the net. But the lead lasted for a minute at most, as The Hamlet hit back immediately at the other end, when David Bangurah cooly ran through the middle & hit the ball past the keeper into the corner of the net.

We could have had a chance to sew up the game with around ten minutes left on the clock, as one of our forwards appeared to be fouled close to the touchline in the box, but any penalty appeals were waved away by the referee. Right at the death Karim Boyle smacked the post with his effort, seconds before the final whistle blew, for a final score of:

Walking off the pitch one of Youth Team bosses JUNIOR KADI took a moment to speak to us at www.pitchero.com/clubs/dulwichhamlet/ & told us:
"Gillingham were a good side, big & strong, with a lot of our boys being smaller, younger first years,so a draw will do nicely.I'm happy enough with the result."

Hamlet team: 1. Craige Dwyer; 2. Brandon Garner; 3. Anton Williams; 4. Aaron Powell; 5. Tyler Myers; 6. Joe Osheyemi; 7. David Bangurah; 8. Fabian Reid; 9. Shelton Frimpong; 10. Kadeeh Ajeon; 11. Karim Boyle. Subs: 12. Xavier Vidal; 14. Chukwu Nwokeh; 15. Emiliano Hysi.